This study was conducted to evaluate the present status of production system of dairy buffalo under semi-intensive management in coastal area of Bangladesh. The data were collected during farm visit and recorded in prepared questionnaire and check list. The findings of the study revealed that very minimum housing facilities were provided to the buffaloes. Both the grazing and confinement time were found similar (around 6 hrs in a day) and they spent almost 3 hrs in a day for wallowing. The majority of the lactating buffaloes were not being adequately fed. Farmers usually supplied local grass (4.98±2.89 kg DM/day) and rice straw (10.90 ±2.85 kg DM/day) with one or two concentrate feed separately as supplement (1.51±0.80 kg DM/day). The daily average DCP and TDN supply were 0.365 and 6.417 kg/d respectively which were undersupplied as compared to standard requirement. The productive and reproductive performance of indigenous dairy buffalo was not similar to high producing dairy buffaloes. The average lactation yields (litre/lactation) were found as 469.52±163.71. The EC value (2.73±3.53) of milk indicated as healthy milk production. Milk consumption pattern (8%) was not satisfactory. Milk market was volatile. Natural breeding (95.7%) was more prominent practice than artificial insemination (AI) (4.3%). The most of the buffalo cows showed heat from early night to early morning (22.2-54.2%). Technology adaptation for buffalo rearing was very much poor. Technology adaptation index for the use of concentrate feed, artificial insemination, de-worming and vitamin-mineral premix were 16.34, 13.46, 23.07 and 6.25 respectively. It therefore be concluded that technological transformation could be boost up to national milk production by developing of the management practise of dairy buffalo under semiintensive system in Bangladesh. SAARC J. Agri., 16(2): 43-59 (2018)

An investigation was carried out with the objectives to identify the naturally occurring forage species, seasonal availability, production patterns under different climatic zones and production performance and methane emission from dairy cow under existing feeding systems. For this purpose, three different agro-climatic zones of Bangladesh, namely saline prone area (Satkhira), flood plain/river basin areas (Pabna), semi-arid/drought prone areas (Chapainobabgonj) were selected. To achieve the objectives, three Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were conducted in each location to obtain more information from different age groups of farmers. A total of 9 FDGs were conducted under three selected locations and twelve participants were attended in each FGD. During FDGs, information was collected through participatory discussions through check list and also discussion was recorded to verify the information gathered as per check list. After collection of information in each side, all the data were checked and analyzed. The results indicated that in saline area,

An attempt was made to study the existing production and management system under intensive buffalo farming at Dinajpur district, a drought area of Bangladesh. Thirty two farmers were selected for this study. Direct interview with farmers, farm observation, community discussions and key informant interview (KII) were carried out to achieve the study. Two types of intensive system were found, namely – household yard (HYI) and completely intensive (CI). It was observed that in HYI system during the day time the animals were kept in yard and in confinement at night. On the contrary, animals were always remained in the shed under CI system. Feeding practice and utilization of feed resources were found different in HYI and CI farming. Showering of dairy buffaloes was observed as common practices in both production systems. All productive e.g. milk yield, lactation yield, lactation length and dry period and reproductive traits e.g. service per conception, age at first pregnancy, age at first calving and post/partum heat period under CI production system were found significantly (p≤0.05) better than that of the HYI systems. Significantly (p≤0.05) higher total solids and fat were found in milk from CI system compared to the HYI system, but in case of protein it was opposite. Natural breeding showed as more prominent practice than that of the artificial insemination in both farming systems. All the farmers practiced colostrum feeding and the calf mortality ranges from 7-8%. Regarding the primary health care, CI farmers were found to be more attentive than the HYI farmers. Most of the buffaloes showed heat from early night to early morning (78.7%). Problem matrix revealed that the top ranked order of problems were “inadequate knowledge”, “high price of feed” and “low milk price”. However, both systems were found as a profitable venture (benefit cost ratio1.33 in HYI and 1.25 in CI). Bangladesh J. of Livestock Res. 21-25: 103-117, 2018

W heat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a food crop that belongs to the Poaceae family. It is a key food source for Pakistanis and ranking first among agricultural crops (GOP, 2014). Due to an increase in population wheat requirement is increasing day by day in Pakistan. Wheat is grown on huge area still its Abstract | The aim of this research was to assist the performance of wheat under several levels of Zinc (Zn) and phosphorus (P). This research was planned in RCB design (split-plot Structure). All the treatments were repeated 4 times to reduce the chances of natural errors. The various levels of P (0, 75, 90 and 105 kg ha-1) were assigned to major plots and Zn levels (0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 kg ha-1) were allocated to sub-plot. ' Atta Habib' wheat variety was sown @ 120 kg ha-1. Result of the experiment shows that both factors had considerably affected all measured parameters. Application of P @105 kg P ha-1 resulted maximum tiller m-2 (304), taller plants (95.40 cm), maximum spike length (10.72 cm), more grain spike-1(49), greater 1000-grains weight (42 g), greater biomass (10719 kg ha-1), maximum grain yield (4148 kg ha-1) and highest economical yield (38%). Regarding Zn levels Plots treated with Zn @ 16 kg ha-1 produce more plants m-2 (295), taller plants (93.5 cm), maximum spike length (10.57cm), more grains in spike (49), higher 1000-Grains weight (41.9 g), maximum biomass (10337 kg ha-1), greater grain yield (4007 kg ha-1) and economical yield (38%). It was concluded that wheat performed better in terms of yield and yield contributing parameters when P and Zn were applied @ 105 and 16 kg ha-1, respectively.

No abstract